The New York City Council - File #: Res 0568-2018

• File #: Res 0568-2018
• Version: *
• Name: Veterans Administration to name its hospital in Manhattan after the American Revolutionary War heroine Margaret Corbin.
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Filed (End of Session)
• Committee: Committee on Veterans
• On agenda: 10/17/2018
• Title: Resolution calling on the Veterans Administration to name its hospital in Manhattan after the American Revolutionary War heroine Margaret Corbin, who survived a battle that occurred in Manhattan and became the first female to receive a military pension.
• Sponsors: Helen K. Rosenthal, Joseph C. Borelli
• Council Member Sponsors: 2

Date	Ver.	Prime Sponsor	Action By	Action	Result
12/31/2021	*	Helen K. Rosenthal	City Council	Filed (End of Session)
5/21/2019	*	Helen K. Rosenthal	Committee on Veterans	Hearing Held by Committee
5/21/2019	*	Helen K. Rosenthal	Committee on Veterans	Laid Over by Committee
10/17/2018	*	Helen K. Rosenthal	City Council	Referred to Comm by Council
10/17/2018	*	Helen K. Rosenthal	City Council	Introduced by Council

Res. No. 568

Resolution calling on the Veterans Administration to name its hospital in Manhattan after the American Revolutionary War heroine Margaret Corbin, who survived a battle that occurred in Manhattan and became the first female to receive a military pension.

By Council Members Rosenthal and Borelli

                     Whereas, Throughout human history, from Joan of Arc to Florence Nightingale, women have made extraordinary contributions during times of war; and

                     Whereas, Born in 1751, Margaret Corbin is one of the great unsung heroes of the American Revolution; and

                     Whereas, At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, she supported the troops by cooking for them and washing their clothes at military camps; and

                     Whereas, However, in November of 1776, her husband was killed during a battle with Hessian mercenaries, at what is now known as Fort Tryon Park in upper Manhattan; and

                     Whereas, Despite her shock and grief, she immediately took charge of his unmanned cannon and started firing at the enemy with extraordinary vigor and force; and

                     Whereas, She continued to fire until munitions struck her, bruising her chest, lacerating her jaw, and nearly severing her left arm, which she was unable to use for the rest of her life; and

                     Whereas, She subsequently entered the Invalid Regiment at West Point, where she cared for other wounded soldiers; and

                     Whereas, According to the United States Military Academy, she struggled both emotionally and financially in her later years; and

                     Whereas, On July 6, 1779, she received a lifetime disability pension of one-half pay, which made her the first woman to receive a pension from the government; and

                     Whereas, She died in 1800, at the age of 48; and

                     Whereas, There are commemorative markers dedicated to her at Fort Tryon Park and at Holyrood Church on West 179^th Street; and

                     Whereas, In recognition of her unique legacy of physical bravery and service to others, the Veterans Administration should rename its Manhattan hospital after her; and

                     Whereas, This would renew interest in her memory and inspire both men and women to serve in uniform in the future; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the Veterans Administration to name its hospital in Manhattan after the American Revolutionary War heroine Margaret Corbin, who survived a battle that occurred in Manhattan and became the first female to receive a military pension.

LS#6614

10/12/18

MK